Site News |
---|
Warning: This wiki contains spoilers. Read at your own risk! Social media: If you would like, please join our Discord server, and/or follow us on Twitter (X) or Tumblr! |
Fire Emblem (series): Difference between revisions
m (→Main series) |
m (→Main series: Missed this one) |
||
Line 122: | Line 122: | ||
| style="background:{{Color3}}" |[[Game Boy Advance]] | | style="background:{{Color3}}" |[[Game Boy Advance]] | ||
| style="background:{{Color3}}" |{{JP}}October 7, 2004<ref name="fe releases"></ref><br>{{NA}}May 23, 2005<br>{{EU}}November 4, 2005 | | style="background:{{Color3}}" |{{JP}}October 7, 2004<ref name="fe releases"></ref><br>{{NA}}May 23, 2005<br>{{EU}}November 4, 2005 | ||
| style="background:{{Color3}}" |The eighth game of the series. It is somewhat of a throwback to {{FE2}}, featuring branched promotions, [[monster]]s, and an explorable [[world map]]. Takes place on [[Magvel]] and features the twin lords [[Eirika]] and [[ | | style="background:{{Color3}}" |The eighth game of the series. It is somewhat of a throwback to {{FE2}}, featuring branched promotions, [[monster]]s, and an explorable [[world map]]. Takes place on [[Magvel]] and features the twin lords [[Eirika]] and [[Ephraim]]. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| style="background:{{Color3}}" |[[File:Ba america fe09.jpg|100px|center|link=Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance]] | | style="background:{{Color3}}" |[[File:Ba america fe09.jpg|100px|center|link=Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance]] |
Revision as of 23:16, 18 February 2017
This page has been marked as a stub. Please help improve the page by adding information. |
Fire Emblem (Japanese: ファイアーエムブレム Fire Emblem) is a series of turn-based strategy role-playing games developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo.[1] The series is the first of its kind, with its origins dating back to the days of the Nintendo Entertainment System;[2] however, the first six games were released exclusively in Japan. Each game in the series includes numerous playable characters, each with their own backstories and personalities. The series features permanent death, meaning that any character, save the Lord character(s), will be gone for good if they fall in battle.[3]
History
Nintendo Entertainment System and Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Intelligent Systems began as a company invested in producing video game development tools. Intelligent Systems began to work on simulation games, starting with the first game of the Wars series, Famicom Wars, which has gameplay slightly similar to the Fire Emblem series. The Fire Emblem series first began with the release of Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light for the Nintendo Entertainment System on April 20, 1990 and was developed by Intelligent Systems. Although it did not have a great amount of sales in the first two weeks, sales did eventually improve.
The second game in the series, Fire Emblem Gaiden, was released on March 14, 1992, also for the Nintendo Entertainment System. As its name suggests, it is a side story to the original, being set in the same universe but on a different continent. Some characters from Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light appear but the majority of the cast is new. It introduced several new gameplay changes, including a "Trainee" type class, use of a world map, and monster enemies. Most of these elements vanished with the release of Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem, though many elements have made their way back in recent titles like Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones, Fire Emblem Awakening, and Fire Emblem Fates.
A direct sequel to the first game, Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem, was released on the Super NES on January 21, 1994. The game is divided into two parts; colloquially known as books or, more simply, parts. Book 1 is an abridged retelling and remake of Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light. Book 2 is the meat of the game and a sequel to the original, featuring characters returning from the original as well as new cast additions. It returns to the original formula, but adds new features, like dismounting and new weapons. It also received major graphical updates, owing to releasing on the Super NES. Mystery of the Emblem is the best-selling Fire Emblem game in Japan.[4]
The next game in the series, Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War, released on the Super NES on May 14, 1996. It featured mostly similar gameplay to its predecessors, but it mixes things up by featuring things like massive maps, inventory changes, and an entire second generation of characters descended from the first generation of characters. Child charaters would, however, become absent until the feature's resurgence almost a decade later in Awakening. As of 2002, Genealogy of the Holy War was the second-best-selling Fire Emblem game, having sold an estimated 498,216 copies in its original Super Famicom print run.[4] The official US English website for Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade alleges that Genealogy was the most successful Fire Emblem game in Japan,[5] but it is uncertain how true this claim is in light of all other evidence pointing to Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem historically holding that title.
After Genealogy of the Holy War, Fire Emblem: Archanea Saga aired on the Satellaview peripheral on the Super NES, and featured four single-map scenarios taking place before the events of Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light. Overall it is minor aspect of the series, and is often overlooked.
Closing the Super NES era is Fire Emblem: Thracia 776, which was one of the last games released on the Super NES, releasing on the Nintendo Power flash cartridge service on September 1st, 1999, and getting a proper physical release on January 21st, 2000. Thracia 776 takes place during the second generation of Genealogy of the Holy War, and focuses on events occurring in Thracia. The gameplay returns mostly to the style of Mystery of the Emblem, but adds new mechanics like capture, fog of war, and a comparative wealth of new chapter objectives. Thracia 776 is often conisdered by fans to be one of the more difficult, if not the most difficult, titles in the series. Thracia 776, unfortunately, holds the title of the worst-selling Fire Emblem title, presumably due to its late release and unusual distribution method; initially it could only be obtained by downloading it to a special Super NES cartridge through Nintendo Power.
Nintendo 64
While no Fire Emblem games ever released on the Nintendo 64, there was one title known to be in development. Unfortunately, very little of this game was released to the public, aside from the fact that it existed at all. Colloquially known as Fire Emblem 64 among fans, it did have some information about it released in The Making of Fire Emblem, a book released in late 2015, which revealed that this title was heavily retooled and would eventually become Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade, which is mentioned below.
Game Boy Advance games
Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade was the first portable game and first game released after the departure of Shouzou Kaga. Releasing on the Game Boy Advance on March 22nd, 2002 it is what Fire Emblem 64 eventuated as. The Binding Blade features typical Fire Emblem gameplay, playing similarly to the Super NES titles, though mechanics like dismount and capture are not featured. The Binding Blade takes place in a different universe than previous titles, featuring the continent of Elibe. Of note, the game's main character, Roy appeared in Super Smash Bros. Melee alongside Marth, and brought the series to somewhat widespread western attention. Despite this, The Binding Blade never released internationally, despite English Nintendo sources expressing interest in such a release.[6]
Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade was the first Fire Emblem game released worldwide.[7] It is a prequel to The Binding Blade. The game's development had an international release in mind from the start, with the first ten chapters being an extended tutorial. This was specifically meant to introduce international players to the gameplay of the series. [8] While the original release lacked a subtitle, due to being the only internationally released Fire Emblem title at the time, modern English Nintendo sources refer to it as The Blazing Blade to avoid confusion with other titles and the series in general.
Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones was released on October 7, 2004 in Japan and released internationally in 2005. It is the second title to be released internationally. The Sacred Stones is somewhat of a throwback to Gaiden in terms of gameplay; it reintroduces a traversable world map and features a wealth of monster enemies. It is a standalone title in terms of story and universe, the only Fire Emblem 'universe' to only have one game in its continuity. The Sacred Stones was developed in tandem with Path of Radiance.
Gamecube and Wii games
Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance released on the Nintendo Gamecube in Japan on April 20, 2005, with international releases following in the same year. It, once again, features a new universe and takes place on the continent of Tellius. In terms of characters it introduced a new major race of beast-people, the laguz.
Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn released on the Nintendo Wii in Japan on February 22, 2007, with international releases following in the year and 2008. It is a direct sequel to Path of Radiance.
There was a second Fire Emblem series game planned for the Nintendo Wii, however it did not make it very far in to development. It was only known by the placeholder title Fire Emblem Wii, and appears that it would have been a fairly radical departure from Fire Emblem series gameplay had it released; featuring real-time gameplay and allowing the player to control many units at once.
Nintendo DS remakes
Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon was released on August 7, 2008 in Japan and internationally later that year and in 2009. After the development team restructuring after the lackluster sales of Radiant Dawn, the new team decided to start with a remake of the original NES game, with elements from the Super NES remake also utilized, on Nintendo DS. It is a fairly straightforward remake, though it does feature some new chapters and cast additions compared to the original.
Closing the Nintendo DS-era is Fire Emblem: New Mystery of the Emblem released on July 15, 2010 only in Japan. It was made to celebrate the series twentieth anniversary, a remake of the second half of the third game of the series was released, though only in Japan. This was the first game since the series had hit worldwide shelves to be released exclusively in Japan. This game was the first game to introduce the avatar system and casual mode to the series, though this is often overlooked due to the game's Japan-only release.
Nintendo 3DS and smart device games
Fire Emblem Awakening was Fire Emblem's first foray into the Nintendo 3DS console, released on April 19th, 2012 in Japan and 2013 internationally. It is the first non-remake title in the five years following Radiant Dawn. It takes place within the same universe as Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light and associated games, but a substantial time later. Unlike Fire Emblem: New Mystery of the Emblem, this game was released internationally. Much of the gameplay was simplified or made easier in order to appeal to a wider audience. Awakening reintroduces child characters and introduced the avatar system and casual mode to a wider audience.
Fire Emblem Fates is the second game on the Nintendo 3DS, released on June 25, 2015 in Japan, and internationally in 2016. After the first five chapters, it splits into three separate storylines: Birthright, which is similar to Awakening in gameplay; Conquest, which is somewhat more like the previous Fire Emblem games; and Revelation, which also is similar to Awakening in terms of gameplay. Birthright and Conquest are sold separately, but the other game can be bought at a discount as DLC. Revelation is exclusively obtained through this method. Fates is also the first series title to be localized for the South Korean market, marking an expansion of influence for the series.
Fire Emblem Heroes, following the success of Awakening and Fates released on smart devices on February 2nd, 2017. It features bite-sized gameplay and has characters from across the series.
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia is currently scheduled to release on the Nintendo 3DS on April 20, 2017 in Japan and May 19, 2017. It is a remake of Gaiden, and the third remake overall. Similarly to Fates being the first South Korean-localized title, Echoes: Shadows of Valentia will be the first Fire Emblem title to be localized for Chinese markets. It is likely that Echoes: Shadows of Valentia will be the last main-line Fire Emblem series title released for the Nintendo 3DS.
Fire Emblem Warriors is also scheduled for release on the Nintendo 3DS alongside its Nintendo Switch release.
Nintendo Switch games
Fire Emblem Warriors is currently scheduled to be the first Fire Emblem-related title to be released on the Nintendo Switch. It is a spinoff title and crossover with Dynasty Warriors.
Fire Emblem for Nintendo Switch is the next main-line title, and is scheduled for release in 2018. Very little is known about this title, other than it exists; not even the subtitle is yet known.
Games
Main series
style="Template:Roundtl;background:#232855;" | Box art | English language title | Original titles | Platform | Release date(s) | style="Template:Roundtr;background:#232855;" | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light | 暗黒竜と光の剣 Ankoku Ryū to Hikari no Ken |
Nintendo Entertainment System | JP April 20, 1990[9] | The first game of the series, featuring Marth and his struggles on the continent of Archanea. | |
Gaiden | 外伝 Gaiden |
Nintendo Entertainment System | JP March 14, 1992[9] | The second game in the series. A side-story of the first game, featuring dual protagonists Alm and Celica on the continent of Valentia. | |
Mystery of the Emblem | 紋章の謎 Monshō no Nazo |
Super Nintendo Entertainment System | JP January 21, 1994[9] | The third game of the series. A two-part game featuring both a remake of the first game, and a direct continuation of Marth's struggles on Archanea. | |
Genealogy of the Holy War | 聖戦の系譜 Seisen no Keifu |
Super Nintendo Entertainment System | JP May 14, 1996[9] | The fourth game of the series. Takes place long before Marth's time, on a distant continent, Jugdral. The game features two protagonists, Sigurd, and his son Seliph. | |
Thracia 776 | トラキア776 Torakia 776 |
Super Nintendo Entertainment System | JP January 21, 2000[9] | The fifth game of the series. Takes place during Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War and details Leif's struggles in Thracia. | |
The Binding Blade | 封印の剣 Fūin no Tsurugi |
Game Boy Advance | JP March 29, 2002[9] | The sixth game of the series. First handheld game. Takes place on Elibe and features Roy, as well as a departure from the Archanea-Jugdral games' "universe". | |
Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade | 烈火の剣 Rekka no Ken |
Game Boy Advance | JPApril 25, 2003[9] NANovember 3, 2003 EUJuly 16, 2004 AUSFebruary 20, 2004 |
The seventh game of the series. First game released outside of Japan. A prequel to Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade, featuring a trio of lords, Lyn, Eliwood and Hector. | |
The Sacred Stones | 聖魔の光石 Seima no Kōseki |
Game Boy Advance | JPOctober 7, 2004[9] NAMay 23, 2005 EUNovember 4, 2005 |
The eighth game of the series. It is somewhat of a throwback to Fire Emblem Gaiden, featuring branched promotions, monsters, and an explorable world map. Takes place on Magvel and features the twin lords Eirika and Ephraim. | |
Path of Radiance | 蒼炎の軌跡 Sōen no Kiseki |
Nintendo GameCube | JPApril 20, 2005[9] NAOctober 10, 2005 EUNovember 11, 2005 AUSDecember 1, 2005 |
The ninth game of the series. First console game released outside of Japan. Takes place on Tellius and chronicles Ike's rise from trainee mercenary to liberator of Crimea. | |
Radiant Dawn | 暁の女神 Akatsuki no Megami |
Wii | JPFebruary 22, 2007[9] USNovember 5, 2007 EUMarch 14, 2008 AUSApril 10, 2008 |
The tenth game of the series. Sequel to Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance and features Micaiah and Ike, who fight on opposing sides before coming together to take on the true villains. | |
Shadow Dragon | 新・暗黒竜と光の剣 Shin Ankoku Ryū to Hikari no Ken |
Nintendo DS | JPAugust 7, 2008[9] EUDecember 5, 2008 NAFebruary 16, 2009 AUSFebruary 26, 2009 |
The eleventh game of the series, and a remake of Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light.[10] | |
New Mystery of the Emblem: Heroes of Light and Shadow | 新・紋章の謎 〜光と影の英雄〜 Shin Monshō no Nazo: Hikari to Kage no Eiyū |
Nintendo DS | JP July 15, 2010 | The twelfth game of the series, and a remake of Book 2 of Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem. | |
Awakening | 覚醒 Kakusei |
Nintendo 3DS | JPApril 19, 2012 USFebruary 4, 2013[11] EUApril 19, 2013[12] AUSApril 20, 2013 |
The thirteenth game of the series. Revisits Archanea many years into the future. It features Chrom, a descendant of Marth. | |
Fates | if | Nintendo 3DS | JPJune 25, 2015 USFebruary 19, 2016 EUMay 20, 2016 AUSMay 21, 2016 KORSeptember 8, 2016 |
The fourteenth game of the series. Splits into Birthright, Conquest, and Revelation paths. The first game where the avatar, Corrin, is the explicit main character. | |
Echoes: Shadows of Valentia | Echoes もうひとりの英雄王 Ekōzu Mō Hitori no Eiyū-ō |
Nintendo 3DS | JPApril 20, 2017 USMay 19, 2017 EUMay 19, 2017 AUSMay 19, 2017 |
The fifteenth game of the series, and a remake of Fire Emblem Gaiden. | |
style="Template:Roundbl; background:#222222" | | Fire Emblem for Nintendo Switch (Tentative title) | TBA | Nintendo Switch | JP2018 US2018 EU2018 AUS2018 |
style="Template:Roundbr; background:#222222" | The sixteenth game of the series. |
Spin-offs
style="Template:Roundtl;background:#232855;" | Box art | English language title | Original titles | Platform | Release date(s) | style="Template:Roundtr;background:#232855;" | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fire Emblem: Archanea Saga | BS ファイアーエムブレム アカネイア戦記編 BS Faiā Emuburemu Akaneia Senkihen |
Super NES | JPSeptember 28th, 1997 | A small set of backstory scenarios for Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light and Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem. It is occasionally included as a main-line series title by Intelligent Systems though this is inconsistent. It was remade as a bonus set of maps appearing in Fire Emblem: New Mystery of the Emblem. | |
Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE | 幻影異聞録♯FE Gen'ei Ibunroku Shāpu Efu Ī |
Wii U | JPDecember 26, 2015 USJune 24, 2016 EUJune 24, 2016 AUSJune 25, 2016 |
A role-playing game made by Atlus for the Wii U. It was originally presented as a crossover between the Shin Megami Tensei series and Fire Emblem, though it ended up featuring more original elements with Fire Emblem and Shin Megami Tensei references and influences instead. | |
Fire Emblem Heroes | ファイアーエムブレム ヒーローズ Faiā Emuburemu Hīrōzu |
iOS Android |
February 2, 2017 | A mobile app game featuring characters from across the series. | |
style="Template:Roundbl; background:#222222" | | Fire Emblem Warriors | ファイアーエムブレム 無双 Faiā Emuburemu Musō |
Nintendo Switch, New Nintendo 3DS | JPQ4 2017 USQ4 2017 EUQ4 2017 AUSQ4 2017 |
style="Template:Roundbr; background:#222222" | An action game derived from Koei Tecmo's Dynasty Warriors series developed by Intelligent Systems, Omega Force, and Team Ninja. |
Gameplay
The Fire Emblem games are in the tactical role-playing game genre and they were one of the first of its time to involve such gameplay, including a full plot and a range of diverse characters.
Fire Emblem 64
- Main article:
Fire Emblem 64
As mentioned in the series history a game in development for the Nintendo 64 existed for a time, but it never eventuated into a full release.
Fire Emblem Wii
- Main article:
Fire Emblem Wii
A second title for the Nintendo Wii was in development after Radiant Dawn, but never eventuated into a full release.
Logos throughout the series
English
Japanese
In Japan, while the colors, borders, and other aesthetics have varied through out the series, the general design of the logo has stayed the same until Awakening, with the exception of Radiant Dawn. The location, size, font, and color of the English words "Fire Emblem" have also varied, with some games not even including it at all. The logo was changed to fit the name of Awakening and to "be more stylish".[13]
References
- ↑ http://www.derekmiller.us/fireemblem/part2.html
- ↑ http://www.nindb.net/series/fire-emblem.html
- ↑ http://uk.gamespot.com/gba/rpg/fireemblem/review.html
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 University of Japan Copyright Center, 日本ユニ著作権センター/判例全文・2002/11/14d 3, Translan, Published: 2002-11-14, Retrieved: 2015-03-30
- ↑ History of Fire Emblem, Fire Emblem (archived by Serenes Forest), Published: 2003, Retrieved: 2015-04-17
- ↑ Harris, Craig. (2002-03-15). "Fire Emblem Hits Japan Airwaves". IGN. Retrieved 2014-03-25
- ↑ http://uk.gameboy.ign.com/objects/499/499430.html
- ↑ http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_fireemblem_gba
- ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 http://www.nintendo.co.jp/fe/few_series.html
- ↑ http://fire-emblem.com/shadowdragon/interview/interview1.html
- ↑ Nintendo Direct (Nintendo of America), December 5th 2012
- ↑ Nintendo Direct (Nintendo Europe), February 14th 2012
- ↑ Iwata Asks : Fire Emblem Awakening : Syncing with "Awakening"